title: Tropical arthritis in Papua New Guinea: a reactive arthritis.
abstract: An idiopathic, asymmetrical oligoarthritis affecting young adults is prevalent in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Melanesia. A serological study was undertaken in 23 consecutive patients with polyarthritis. Each patient was assigned two paired control subjects. A standardized history, physical examination and investigations were performed. Acute and convalescent sera were examined for evidence of recent infection. The presence of HLA-B27 was determined. Twelve (52%) of the 23 patients had more than one of the clinical features of a reactive arthritis. No serological evidence was found of acute infection with viruses (arboviruses, enteroviruses, mumps, rubella, adenoviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B), Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Yersinia or syphilis. HLA-B27 was found in 14 (61%) of the 23 patients in contrast with in seven (17%) of the 41 control subjects (P less than 0.001). In two patients with HLA-B27, diagnostic titres of antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni-Campylobacter coli indicated recent infection. The presence of HLA-B27 antigen was significantly (P less than 0.05) associated with the presence of the clinical features of reactive arthritis. This study suggests that "tropical arthritis" commonly is a reactive arthritis that is associated with the presence of HLA-B27.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, NSW.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mavo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naraqi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M